Vacancies

To support the delivery of the Foundation’s grant-making programmes to charities, community groups and voluntary organisations across Dorset.

The postholder will manage designated grant programmes from application through to award, monitoring and closure, ensuring a fair, transparent and efficient experience for applicants and funded organisations. They will undertake grant assessment, due diligence, monitoring and reporting activities, while contributing to the Foundation’s understanding of community needs and the impact of its funding.

The role supports the Grants Manager in delivering a portfolio of grant programmes and maintaining high standards of grant-making practice, governance and customer service.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Programme Management

• Manage the full grant-making cycle for designated grant programmes within delegated authority levels and agreed programme frameworks.
• Build and maintain application forms, monitoring forms and programme information within the Foundation’s grant management systems.
• Support the promotion of grant programmes through the Foundation’s website, communications and stakeholder networks.
• Provide guidance and support to prospective applicants on eligibility, application requirements and programme priorities.
• Review applications against published criteria, programme objectives and local knowledge and insights.
• Undertake due diligence checks on applicant organisations, including governance, financial and safeguarding reviews where appropriate.
• Prepare assessment summaries and funding recommendations for review by the Grants Manager and relevant grant panels.
• Support the administration of grant panels, including recruitment and coordination of panel members where required.
• Communicate funding decisions and feedback to applicants in a timely and professional manner.
• Manage grant offer processes and ensure grant conditions are accepted and fulfilled.
• Escalate complex applications, risks or concerns to the Grants Manager as appropriate.
  Monitoring, Impact and Learning
• Oversee monitoring requirements for funded organisations and ensure reporting deadlines are met.
• Review monitoring reports and assess progress against agreed outcomes.
• Attend project visits, community events and meetings where appropriate to monitor delivery and gather impact information.
• Identify risks, concerns or non-compliance issues and escalate where appropriate.
• Support the collection of impact data, case studies, beneficiary stories and learning.
• Identify emerging themes and community needs arising from grant activity and contribute to organisational learning.
• Produce programme reports and performance information for internal and external stakeholders.
  Applicant Support and Community Engagement
• Act as the primary contact for applicants and funded organisations within designated grant programmes.
• Build positive relationships with charities, voluntary organisations and community groups across Dorset.
• Support outreach activities to increase awareness of funding opportunities, particularly amongst underrepresented communities and groups.
• Ensure applicants and funded organisations receive a high standard of customer service throughout the grant-making process.
• Represent the Foundation at community events, meetings and networking opportunities as required.
  Systems, Compliance and Administration
• Maintain accurate records using Salesforce, FormAssembly and other grant management systems.
• Ensure grant-making activities comply with Foundation policies, donor requirements and relevant legislation.
• Support audit, governance, data protection and reporting requirements.
• Assist with the preparation of papers, reports and information for grant panels and committees.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of grant-making systems, processes and applicant experience.
• Support other grant-making and organisational activities as required.

The post holder may also be asked to support and undertake other related duties not listed in this Role Description from time to time according to the needs of the business.

Person Specification

Experience/knowledge required

• Experience of grant-making, grant assessment, funding administration or programme delivery within the voluntary, charitable or public sector.
• Experience reviewing applications or proposals against defined criteria.
• Experience undertaking due diligence, compliance or risk-based assessments.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and working with databases or CRM systems.
• Ability to build effective relationships with community organisations and external stakeholders.
• Commitment to fairness, transparency, equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications.

Desirable

• Experience managing grant programmes from application to award.
• Familiarity with Salesforce, FormAssembly or similar grant management systems.
• Knowledge of Charity Commission guidance and charity governance.
• Understanding of monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting approaches.
• Knowledge of Dorset’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.
• Experience undertaking community engagement, outreach or stakeholder engagement activities.
• Experience of project visits, monitoring activities or impact assessment.